This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Takata recall - I'm placing myself in debt due to the repairs for a car that isn't that old. I'm having electrical problems, steering wheel and brake issues. This company has numerous issues, recalls and legal issues with their cars. I din't sign-up to pay all this money out of pocket, and the airbag recall still isn't available. They were supposed to fix the steering wheel recall, and now my horn doesn't work or any controls on the steering unit. Now how much more money do I have to put into this car" I'm going to notify the better business bureau. I expect certain expenses, but this is a bit much and unfair to the consumer to incur more debt than anticipated. I have obligations and I have to be at work and can't afford to be off due to all these mechanical issues. Especially when the consumer is paying a car note and the car was never reported in an accident. What do you propose I do at this point"
I purchased my car in 2014. I started having issues with the car as soon as I bought it. I started hearing a metal noise and I took it 3 times to the dealer and they could not find anything, then I had a problem with the A/C supposedly they fixed. During this time the car was still under warranty. Since 2015 I been receiving by mail a recall (safety recall 69M9) every time I contact the dealer they always say the don't have the air bag in stock. Has been 2 years since I received the first letter and they still have not received the air bags, and for this reason they have been unable to service my car. I feel very unsafe! driving the car like this! now in 2017 another problem arise, when I am driving the car suddenly brakes / stops. ( feels like it is going to turned off on the middle of the road) the epc light comes on. This is the 4th time in happens while driving. For example the first 3 times I was driving at 40 miles per hour and the car starting shaking and the speed decreased down to 20 miles, I tried to accelerate and the car didn't response. I had to pull over and turn off the car. I can definitely tell is getting worst! it happened again yesterday and was worst, I was driving at 30 miles per hour and I came to a stop as soon as I brake, the epc light came on and the car will not accelerate. The car behind me almost hit me, I could be dead! how is possible that a 2013 car has some many problems/"? is only 4 years old and has more issues than an older car. I don't feel safe driving this car. It stops suddenly while driving and it won't accelerate. I have to pull out turn off the car wait and turn it back on. What about if I'm driving in an express way?? and the car stops suddenly" someone will crash into me! and we both could die!
My wife was driving car makes a turn and hears a noise in steering wheel. The drivers side air bag light comes on. Upon further investigation the steering wheel electric controls also do not work. Online research shows voluntary recall by VW for certain 2010- 2014 Passats for clock spring. Bring to local mechanic who tells me clock spring is bad and I should bring it to VW for repairunder recall. Call my dealer in riverhead NY who informs me that even though the Passat is in recall range the VIN is not part of recall at this time.VW has recall for 420,000 cars for clock spring but for some reason mine is not included and I will have to pay $400 for repair. Recall needs to be expanded.
1. the lighting recall I have had my car serviced at least 4xs for light.. the light is still not fixed, every time the hood is open and closed the light goes out. 2. I was sent recall letter about airbag, I went to have it fixed and was told that the sensor got wet and its my responsibility and was charged alomost 1K to fix it.3. my car while driving says settings are not accessible, this is constant and its not as though im trying to change the settings, while driving. Also the last time I took my car in for service I paid for my ac filter to be changed and it wasn't they said my tires were ok they were not. I have been kicked out of one dealership because the service manager was clearly a racist. I have had so many problems and when I call VW of America im put on hold, just to be told that there is nothing they can do. Now they are calling me over, and over to extend my warranty, I paid for my car in full.. I cant get one person to take my issues seriously, I can barely see the road when driving, the cars settings constantly change. Last but not least I paid for cosmetic issues and had a new battery put in all while under warranty. Because the service manager kicked me out of dealership.
- Fort Worth, TX, USA
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I have had on and off trouble with my left low beam headlight for the last year. I looked to see if my vehicle was covered under the recall 94G8/7V and I was told it is not covered. I had the bulbs replaced and still have the problem. The low beam consistently goes on and off especially in the colder months. I took it to the VW place to have them check it and they told me I just need a new light. I had just had them both replaced so I don't think this is the problem. I believe the recall should be opened up to more 2013 vehicles.
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. While the vehicle was accelerating more than 10 mph, the doors locked independently. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of that failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. While the vehicle was stationary, the passenger side low beam headlight malfunctioned. The contact stated that the headlight would not illuminate when prompted. It was diagnosed that the harness connector needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 102,000.
NHTSA recall number: 16V171 recall date: March 24, 2016. Manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall for your vehicle in a timely manner. Potential is for a fire in the vehicle and it has been 5 months since I received notice of the defect.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V171000 (electrical system) and 16V078000 (air bags) and stated that the parts needed for the repairs were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Check engine light came on 2013 tdi Passat. Car just out of warranty @ 41000miles. Took to dealer. Adblue heater element "burned up." Caused damage to adblue control module. Common problem with this car (all over web). $1200 to repair. Called VW advocate. They covered entire cost of repair
I've found that the doors on my 2013 Volkswagen Passat [tdi] have electrical/mechanical issues when they are exposed to rain water or extreme humidity. During these exposures they will not stay locked [they will lock and unlock]. two specific periods of time really stand out where the doors have been particularly troublesome. The first was after a rain storm while visiting family in mt. I went to my car and found that I could not close my passenger door after I opened it. It was stationary at the time. I literally had to wrap my seatbelt around the door handle to keep the door from flying open as I took it in for evaluation. I took it to the dealership and they could not recreate the problem. Within one week it happened again during another rain shower, this time I was driving and my daughter was in the passenger seat! thankfully we were driving slow, in town, and no harm came to anyone. I took it back to the dealership and had them replace the mechanical part of the locking mechanism this seemed to solve the 'staying closed' issue. The second period of time I was in fl in late August. I was there for three weeks and the entire time the humidity was such that everything was soaking wet. Once again I had issues with my doors. This time it was more electrical than mechanical. My key fob stopped allowing me to lock/unlock my doors and the locks seemed to be possessed. I had to pull the cover off my 'touch' lock to use the key to lock and unlock the doors. I also experienced mile after mile of my doors locking and unlocking while driving. This lasted the entire time I was there. When I came back to a dryer climate the problem stopped. Of the two series of issues I experienced the one that put my child's life in danger is the most concerning. The repairs cost me nearly $1K and the peace-of-mind I lost is immeasurable.
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the key fob failed to lock and unlock the driver side door in cold temperatures without warning. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred when attempting to enter or exit the vehicle throughout out the winter months. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure was unable to be determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,618.
After parking overnight, driver side door would not open using exterior door handle. Opening door from inside released latch, opening door, but frayed a cable. Frayed cable resulted in door latch stuck open, unable to latch door closed. Vehicle was unsafe to drive, door would not close and latch properly. The problem is water and moisture entering the latch and freezing. I disassembled the inner door panel to close latch and drive to dealer for repair. VW has an updated part to solve the problem. A failed latch could cause the door to open while operating a vehicle.
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact also noticed that the steering wheel and the horn failed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column coil needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,000.
Exterior lightening: No low beam to front passenger side headlight. Bulb is loose and has lost electrical contact. I had this issue checked at an VW dealership in milwaukee, wi months ago and was informed that this was the problem. (this issue is under recall). Unfortunately, I was told that it does not apply for my series vehicle. What is the process to get my vehicle covered for replacement?
Battery cables are reversed so the red positive and black negative cables are not accurate. Battery hooked up wrong and sparked, smoked, horn blasts. Now no ac doesnt work and battery light stays light. Happened when battery was changed
My airbag light on my car came on and none of the controls on my steering wheel work including the horn. I looked on the VW website and saw that there was a recall. I called the dealership and they said there was no repair. This is concerning because I drive a lot of interstate miles each week. Saturday I received a letter from Volkswagen about the airbag recall and it says to contact the dealership immediately for repair due to safety issue but when I called the dealership, they had no part to repair it. I am driving without a working airbag and am very concerned!
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- Penn Hills, PA, USA